Men's Group

Men are stronger and bigger (except when they are sleeping or when they woman is, in fact, stronger -which does happen).

But it is only at the extremes of abuse that this matters, I think, and most abuse -let's face it- falls within the range where bigger and stronger makes that much of a difference.

If a large powerful man used their full strength, a woman could be easily hurt and would be. So when such full strength is used, it is clear who comes out on the losing side.

As a result, most abusive men probably do not use their full strength. That does not make it any less abusive. If a man hits a woman with half strength, it is just as much abuse as if he did it with full strength or quarter strength.

And a woman, being smaller, is probably more likely to use all their strength, safe in the knowledge that even full strength will not do permanent damage.

Still, abuse is abuse is abuse and the scars lie at least as much in the fear and emotional realm as in the physical.